So it’s over.
(Good work, Akane.)
(Yeah, you too, Onii-chan.)
With the roar of the excited crowd at my back, I stepped down from the ring.
Midir was waiting for me when I returned to the waiting room.
“Lady Katia, that was good work. No complaints.”
“Midir. What’s the plan now?”
Today’s schedule only went up to the first round, so I was allowed to leave at this point.
However, whether or not I could show myself to the citizens was something I had to check with the Intelligence Department each time.
It was a pain, but it couldn’t be helped.
“Let’s get back to the castle quickly while the spectators are still up there. They’re probably still in an excited state, so it’ll be a hassle if you’re spotted. They should calm down after a while, so please think of it as something to endure until then.”
“I see. In that case, shall we head back to the castle now? Are these clothes fine as they are?”
“Yes, that’s fine. As for the way back, let’s consider it an improvement since people are gathered at the arena. We can’t stay hidden forever, and I’ll choose the safest route possible.”
When I headed out into the city with Midir, the sun was already beginning to set.
Led by him, I walked briskly through the city streets, dyed by the evening sun.
Along the way, several citizens noticed me.
“Oh, are you perhaps—”
“My, isn’t that the girl from the picture?”
“Ooh, the one from the rumors! The Sword Saint helped me out a lot. Come by my shop if you have time!”
As expected, my identity was revealed immediately.
Quite a few people called out to me.
However, all of their words were of a gentle nature…
Many people saw Grandpa’s shadow in my title as his disciple.
The center of the conversation wasn’t me, but Grandpa.
But I didn’t find it unpleasant at all.
Everyone seemed to be grateful or feel indebted to Grandpa.
“Tell us a story about Tim!”
“Stop by our shop, too. We’ll give you something on the house!”
I was happy that the legacy Grandpa left behind was still alive and well in this royal capital.
Though it was probably also because the more hot-blooded people were at the arena, and because Midir had chosen to walk through a street lined with old buildings.
“Yes, I’ll be sure to come next time. If you have any embarrassing old stories about Grandpa, please do tell me.”
I’ll collect a bunch and use them as drinking stories when I get back to the village.
Though I’ve never drunk alcohol in this body before.
“Tim was a regular at my shop, so I’ve got plenty of stories, little lady. You’re always welcome.”
“Hey, that’s not fair, old man! Just because your shop is a little older—”
“Hehe, well then, until next time.”
I left the city district behind.
With a sense of pride and pleasant embarrassment, my steps naturally became lighter.
(Onii-chan, you seem happy.)
(When someone you love is praised this much, you naturally start to feel this way. To me, Grandpa is just as special as you are, Akane.)
(I see. When you’re happy, Onii-chan, I get happy too.)
My mood was incredibly bright.
The Martial Arts Tournament, Day Two.
I was already on the ring.
“On the west side of the ring, her fighting style can only be described as sensational! Her form is like that of a glamorous incarnation of flame! The person garnering the most attention in the royal capital right now… the magic swordswoman, the human Katia Meyers!”
The embarrassing announcement made me want to run back to the waiting room right now.
My back feels itchy.
“Her opponent on the east side, from the Kishis territory, with a large number of supporters from her hometown packed in the stands! The beastkin A-rank soldier… Minasha!”
“””Mii-chaaan!!”””
“Hiii! Nyahaha~!”
Ugh, a cheering squad with deep, manly voices is waving around flags and what-not.
My opponent for the second round is a cat-type beastkin named Minasha. She’s a woman.
A demi-human with pink hair, cat ears, and a tail.
How should I put it… the idol type?
She herself was getting into it, waving her hands enthusiastically.
She certainly had a cute appearance, but she was a type I’m not very good with.
“The match will begin shortly!”
The starting bell rang.
Minasha made a starting dash and closed in on me.
“Here I cooome!”
Minasha’s weapons seemed to be claws.
She scratched at me with iron claws equipped on both hands.
“Whoa.”
“Nyaa! I can’t hit you!”
She’s quite fast, but… unfortunately, her reach is short.
Her height is a little under 160 centimeters, and her arm length is normal.
As long as I don’t misjudge the distance, she won’t hit me.
“Mmm… Hey, miss. You seem pretty popular, don’t you?”
? What is she trying to say, in the middle of a fight?
Is she trying to rattle me?
“I’m just not satisfied, nya. Because I’m way cuter, and younger, and—”
“Um… by the way, how old are you?”
I know this face of mine isn’t the “cute” type, but she seems to have a lot of confidence in her own looks.
However, I feel like we’re not that different in age.
“Hm? I’m eighteen… what about you, miss?”
“I’m seventeen, actually.”
“No way, you don’t look it, nya! Eeh, I totally thought you were in your twenties.”
“…”
So she’s saying I look old, this bitch.
And besides, in terms of physical age, she’s the older one.
(Onii-chan, your language is getting foul…)
But I get it now. This is a provocation.
Her goal must be to irritate me and mess with my pace.
I won’t fall for that trick. Stay calm, stay calm.
“Besides, I don’t know about any Sword Saint or whatever, but great people from the past are usually overrated, nya. His disciple can’t be all that great either—”
“What?”
What did she just say?
“Eek! Wh-what’s wrong, nya? Are you angry, nya?”
(O-Onii-chan?)
“You bastard… you made fun of my grandpa? Just you wait. Don’t you move from that spot.”
I drew my two swords.
I wasn’t thinking about anything anymore.
I’m going to beat this one up. Absolutely.
“U… unyaaa!!”
She swung her claws around, but I sliced off every single claw part with heat and aura.
The remains scattered onto the ring with a clattering sound.
“I-it’s not over yet, nya! Even without my weapons!”
The cat girl desperately dodged my twin sword attacks.
—Tch.
Her speed really is first-class.
(C-calm down, Onii-chan! If you aim for a counter, it’ll be over quickly…)
No good.
I won’t be satisfied until I make her grovel on the ground right this instant.
I have absolutely no intention of calmly aiming for a counter.
Letting my anger take over, I floated countless fireballs around my body.
“Wait, wait! What are you going to do with those, nyaa! Using both magic and aura at the same time is cheating, nya!”
Like I give a damn.
Go!
“Nyaaaa—!”
The fireballs surged toward that idiot cat Minasha.
When all the fireballs vanished, what remained was the figure of Minasha, standing unsteadily, smoking and scorched in places.
“…Do you surrender?”
Seeing her miserable state cooled my anger a little, so I asked just in case.
I’m not a monster, after all.
“No way, nya! My pride won’t let me surrender—”
“In that case, I’m going to strike you once with the back of my blade. Are you prepared?”
Translator’s note
The author uses the term “mineuchi” which is a non-lethal strike with the blunt back of a sword, used to incapacitate rather than kill.
As long as the referee didn’t stop the match, that’s what was going to happen.
Surely she had no complaints.
“B-but, if possible, I’d rather you didn’t make it hurt too much, or something…”
A flash of irritation.
“Very well. In exchange for leaving no wounds or scars, I’ll give you one that hurts like hell…”
“Eh!? Fungyaaaa—!”
“””M-Mii-chaaan!?”””
Left behind was a single cat, rolling around and writhing in agony.
The final bell rang, and the ring announcer picked up his megaphone.
“M-match over! Whew, that was a wonderful catfight… I mean, a wonderful battle! Everyone, please keep your taunts in moderation, and pick your fights carefully! That’s a promise, between you and me!”